Welcome to 2017!

Well – the new year is here at long last! With it, it brings me to some little items of high importance…

Bring on Saturday March 18, 2017!

I will be travelling to Brisbane in March to spend a week relaxing and see this amazing duo from Ireland in concert – this trip will complete the trifecta of capital cities on the east coast of Australia.

I still have a few little things to sort out for this trip – going to visit Sea World on the Gold Coast and do one of their amazing Animal Adventures…. I have not chosen which one as yet as they are all amazing! Then I have to book my flights – will be flying with Jetgo Australia again.

Jimmy Buffett – My Top 3 Songs

Jimmy Buffett is a legend when it comes to true music of the 1970’s…. I am going to share my top 3!

1. Margaritaville:
   Jimmy had a way of making story songs from what he saw in life – this was one of those songs!
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGNpjDmiHvc
2. Come Monday:
   Come Monday has always been a favourite of mine – it resonates with me as Monday is one of my favourite days…. NOT!
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGw_hrlaOY
3. Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes:
   Changes in Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes is one song I love as it sums up my life!
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7JpxavO9NE

This is my top 3 – are you a JB fan? What songs do you like???

1994 Western Star 5964 NEDKLY

I was very fortunate to be able to photograph this beautiful Ned Kelly themed 1994 Western Star 5964 prime mover (tractor unit) while I was in Tamworth, NSW, Australia recently. The truck is owned by Andrew “Scuzzy” McSweeney of ScuzzTrans Container Transport in Brisbane, Queensland and is used daily on the docks at the Port of Brisbane shifting containers on and off the wharf.

NEDKLY and Wickham Freight Lines’ special Jayne Denham trailer. Jayne is sponsored by both ScuzzTrans and Wickham Freight Lines

NEDKLY outside Tamworth Hyundai in Marius Street

Some of Ned’s mural work

Rear bar, lights, exhausts and mural

Take Me Home – The Life and Music of John Denver

Well – it has been a long time coming but this amazing musical, starring partially sighted NZ singing sensation, Bevan Gardiner, is on it’s way back to Australia. Will keep you updated with tour dates – I do know Thursday March 17, 2016 will be Dubbo’s turn to see this musical masterpiece. See this website for more info:
Take Me Home – The Music and Life of John Denver – DRTCC

An introduction to this amazing musical insight into the life of a man taken way too soon:

Five Positives – 29/10/15

Tonight, I just want to share the positives from today! I am looking forward to sharing more of these as days go on!

1. I love the thought of being able to travel – travelling is a positive thing for me!
2. Having the ability to type how I feel is awesome – it’s one step on the road to recovery
3. The road to recovery will be slow – I plan on looking forward, not looking back
4. People may look at me weird – but I am me and the me I am will not change
5. I have learnt that music is a good relaxant – I listen to my iPod as soon as I arrive home from work to unwind from the fast-paced environment of work!

With that, I will close out this post with one of my all-time favourite Garth Brooks songs:

Time for Some Music Part 11: Jesus and Mama by Confederate Railroad

Tonight, I wish to share a newly found song from one of America’s most understated bands, Confederate Railroad. Confederate Railroad are a country rock/southern rock band from Chattanooga, TN, USA. Current members of CRR are Danny Shirley, Bobby Randall, Rusty Hendrix, Mark Du Fresne and Wayne Secrest.

A song with meaning – A Dream or Two by Charlie Landsborough

Tonight, I want to share a song with some meaning….. one of my favourites! It’s called A Dream or Two and it was written and performed by Charlie Landsborough. Here are the lyrics!

Charlie Landsborough live in concert, Dubbo RSL Club, Dubbo, NSW, Australia 19/5/2013

If ever you’re alone
And life becomes a stone around your neck
And hard times beckon you
In your heart
Always carry a dream or two

Don’t let the shadows creep
Into the hope that keeps all fears at bay
And luck will favour you
In your heart
Always carry a dream or two

Chorus:
A dream is a magic boat
That keeps your soul afloat
A dream’s a prayer the angels wrote
And only those with loving hearts can see
So open up your heart and dream with me

I’d gladly throw away
The gifts that yesterday has given me
If only I could be with you
In my heart
I still carry a dream or two

Chorus:
A dream is a magic boat
That keeps your soul afloat
A dream’s a prayer the angels wrote
And only those with loving hearts can see
So open up your heart and dream with me

I’d gladly throw away
The gifts that yesterday has given me
If only I could be with you
In my heart
I still carry a dream or two

In my heart
I still carry a dream of you

Time for Some Music Part 10: Rita MacNeil and Anne Murray – Flying On Your Own

I have decided to do a second post in this series today – this time, I have chosen Rita MacNeil and Anne Murray doing one of my favourite songs from Rita, Flying On Your Own. I dedicate this to all of the amazing ladies who follow my blog (Lydia, Pascale, FreeByrd, Linda and Heidi)

Time for Some Music Part 9: Rita MacNeil and the Men of the Deeps – Working Man

This time, I am featuring the late great Rita MacNeil and the Men of The Deeps Coal Miner’s Choir doing Rita’s big hit, Working Man – I also wish to dedicate it to the LeBrasseurs (Pascale, her husband, Jon and their daughter, Emily)

Update – and apologies……

The last week has been rather hectic – I apologise to those I have promised blog entries and updates….

Just recently, I booked a coach trip to Mudgee, NSW, Australia with Langley’s Coaches of Dubbo for one of Australia’s leading concert series, A Day On The Green – I went last year (Jimmy Barnes, Troy Cassar-Daley, The Living End, Dan and Dan and Mahalia Barnes and The Soulmates) and had a ball… this year sees me going again… this year’s performers at Mudgee are below:

Today, I have booked another coach trip (again with Langley’s) to Tamworth for the annual Country Music Festival. I’ve been before and absolutely loved every minute of the trip…. some pics from the trip are below:

Myself and Anne Kirkpatrick, daughter of Slim Dusty – January 2012

Myself and Joy McKean wife of Slim Dusty – January 2012

The Big Golden Guitar – January 2012

Paul Costa in Concert, January 2013

Graeme Connors – special guest of Paul Costa in Concert, January 2013

Country Music Cavalcade – January 2014

Dale Hooper at the Country Music Cavalcade – January 2014

Doug McIntyre at the Country Music Cavalcade – January 2014

I will be travelling to both events in luxury with Langley’s Coaches Dubbo. If you want to know more about their business and any upcoming tours, you can get in touch with Langley’s in one of five ways:
Phone: 68828977 (02 68828977 outside NSW)
Web: http://www.langleyscoaches.com.au/
Email: contact@langleyscoaches.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Langleys-Coaches-454268784637824/timeline/
Office: 5 Depot Road West Dubbo, NSW, 2830 (soon to relocate to 4 Janalli Road West Dubbo)

Scania K470EB 6×2*4 TV5594 – the first rear-steer coach sold in Australia

Here is a brief walkaround of TV5594: